How Much Does It Cost to Pave a Driveway in 2024?

Driveway Paving Cost Breakdown

When you get a quote from a local driveway paving professional, you can expect the following factors to go into your total quote.

Materials

The materials you choose will impact the project's cost and the overall look and usability when you’re done.

Site Preparation and Grading

Before your driveway material of choice is laid, the base needs to be cleared and leveled. The cost to level a yard falls between $1 and $2 per square foot on average. Grading may include removing trees, plants, and rocks and also includes leveling any slopes or integrating the slope into the driveway. Leveling and grading will ensure that water drains from the driveway effectively.

Labor

Labor costs for a driveway remodel can make up as much as 50% of the overall price. Labor costs are high for this project because it typically involves specific equipment, like a dump truck, skid steer, roller, plate compactor, and asphalt paver or concrete mixer.

Labor costs approximately $5 to $7 per square foot on average, but costs can vary locally. For a 450-square-foot driveway, this comes out to approximately $2,250.

Permits

Driveway installation permits cost between $50 and $200 on average. Usually, a contractor covers the cost in their expenses. Your city or county might waive the fee if there’s a driveway apron already connecting your home to a public street.

Factors that Impact the Cost to Pave a Driveway

The cost to pave a driveway includes a few essential factors that apply to many homeowners, including the size of your project, pavement thickness, layout, and accessibility.

Size

Remodeling your driveway costs $2 to $15 per square foot for materials and installation, or $950 to $7,200 for a standard two-car driveway. However, this cost varies greatly depending on the material you choose for paving and does not include the cost of labor, which adds another $5 to $7 per square foot to your cost for a total of $7 to $22 per square foot. Here’s how much you’ll pay based on common sizes for one-car, two-car, and three-car driveways.

Thickness  

The size and shape of your dream driveway will play a key factor in the price you ultimately pay. Driveways that are short and straight will cost far less than those that are long and curved, winding, or circular. 

Likewise, the thickness of your driveway will affect the cost of your project, with thicker driveways costing more. 

Layout

The shape and design of your driveway impact the total cost by anywhere from 10% to 30%. An L-shape, S-shape, half-circle, or other curved driveway costs more than a standard square or rectangle design because a contractor has to build custom forms. But if a customized driveway improves the functionality or curb appeal of your home, you can rest easy knowing it can also increase the value of your property.

Location and Accessibility 

If you’re moving the location of your driveway, you may pay more due to demo and grading costs. Easy access to your land, such as if you live in a rural area, often lowers the cost of paving a driveway. Tackling the project in a dense metropolitan area can be trickier and, therefore, more costly. Also, paving a driveway on an incline costs more than paving a driveway on a flat surface.

Driveway Cost By Materials

Details about and expected costs for the various materials you might choose are listed below.

Gravel

Gravel driveways cost an average of $1 to $2 per square foot and require very little upkeep. Gravel can handle inclement weather well and has a life span of 100 years with adequate maintenance. 

Chip Seal or Tar-and-Chip

Chip seal or tar-and-chip driveways cost an average of $5 to $10 per square foot. Chip seal is a mixture of hot asphalt and a fine aggregate such as crushed rocks or gravel. This is a less expensive option than asphalt and has a life span of approximately ten years.   

Asphalt 

Asphalt driveways cost an average of $7 to $15 per square foot. While it’s typically dark black in color, it’s easy to add a little flair to your driveway by using colored asphalt or stamping a brick or rock-like pattern into it before it dries and seals. Asphalt can handle both extremely high and low temperatures well but must be sealed every three to five years to fend off cracks and widening. Asphalt driveways last 15 to 30 years on average, making them less economical than concrete driveways. 

Asphalt is a good material to consider if you’re thinking about building a road on your property. The cost to build a private road with asphalt is about the same per square foot as a driveway.

Concrete 

Concrete costs an average of $10 to $70 per square foot. Concrete is available in several colors and, like asphalt, can be stamped into visually pleasing patterns. Also, concrete is prone to cracking in very cold temperatures but is otherwise exceptionally durable. Concrete lasts approximately 50 to 100 years with proper maintenance and resealing. 

Rubber

Rubber costs an average of $10 to $25 per square foot and is available in several colors. A rubber driveway needs proper drainage since it is a non-porous material and has a life span of 20 years or more. 

Pavers

Driveway pavers cost an average of $5 to $30 per square foot, with a wide variation of cost between different styles. Pavers may be made from concrete, natural stone, bluestone, brick, cobblestone, marble, or other paving stones. Pavers can add serious curb appeal to your home since they’re easy to customize specifically to your overall aesthetic. 

Grass

Grass driveways cost an average of $10 to $15 per square foot. A grass driveway is a type of permeable driveway that uses plastic or concrete pavers with small gaps of grass between them. The gap provides adequate drainage, but, like your lawn, a grass driveway will need to be cut and watered regularly. As an eco-friendly driveway material, the life span of a grass driveway will vary depending on the material you select for your pavers. 

Mowing your grass costs between $0.01 to $0.06 per square foot, and you can save on labor costs by mowing it yourself or save on time and labor by hiring a lawn company near you.

How To Pick the Right Material for a Driveway

The right material for your driveway depends on three factors:

• Style

• Price

• Environment

As you think about style, consider what material and color will boost your curb appeal and help you feel good gazing at your home from the street. If you plan to make other exterior improvements in the next couple of years, like painting your home's exterior or adding major landscaping, think about how your new driveway can complement these additions. 

As with most projects, the overall price of your driveway project will vary greatly with the material you choose. As you plan your project, it can be helpful to identify your budget range and look exclusively at materials that will fit within this budget. 

Where you live and the climate you experience season to season should play a big role in your choice of material. While some materials thrive in cold weather and others do well in extreme heat, not every material is a fit for every climate. Ask your local pros which materials are best for your climate and consider how those fit within your budget and style desires.

Additional Post-Paving Cost Considerations 

Your specific project, material, and style preferences might mean a few add-on expenses. It’s often best to set aside 20% more than the project estimate for unforeseen issues or extra features.

Sealing

On average, it costs $1.50 per square foot to seal an asphalt driveway. Sealing offers extra protection and slows cracking and shifting.

Drainage

Drainage systems drain water away from your home and foundation. A driveway culvert costs an average of $1,500 to $5,000 and creates a crossing from the street to your property.

Landscaping

If you want to landscape around your driveway, such as with edging, driveway pavers, or plants, the cost depends largely on your design and materials. You can hire a local landscaper or tackle the project yourself.

Heated Driveways

Heated driveways cost an average of $12 to $25 per square foot and have a life span of 15 to 20 years. They are not materials themselves but consist of a radiant heating system installed underneath the surface. This system can be installed under pavers, chip seals, asphalt, and concrete.

Cleaning and Maintenance Costs

Asphalt sealing should be done every three to five years, costing $2 to $7 per square foot. Concrete sealing should be done every two to three years and costs between $1 to $2 per square foot. Repairing small cracks in your driveway costs less than $0.20 per linear foot, whereas extensive driveway repairs can cost anywhere from $800 to $2,600. 

Is It Possible to DIY a Driveway Paving Project?

Driveway installation is best left to a pro with the proper experience and equipment, such as a dump truck, jackhammer, skid steer, roller, and plate compactor. If your driveway is paved incorrectly, you risk damage to your home’s foundation, and you may end up with a driveway that doesn’t last long or hold up to the elements.

A local driveway paving pro can save you time, hassle, and unnecessary expenses. Plus, paving a driveway requires intense physical labor and multiple work days.

Questions to Ask a Driveway Pro

To pave the way to success, it all boils down to choosing the right driveway professional to get the job done right. We've rounded up some tips on hiring a paving contractor. Ask at least three driveway installation companies so that you can best guarantee a successful driveway installation project.

• How long has your company been in business?

• What does the installation process look like?

• What is the time frame for installing a driveway?

• What kind of licensing do you have?

• Do you work with third-party driveway installers?

• Do you have samples of completed projects?

• What additional services do you offer on top of paving driveways?

How to Save Money on Paving a Driveway

While you should not skimp on details like grading the land and installing proper drainage, you can still save on driveway paving costs.

• Choose a less expensive material, such as concrete instead of asphalt. 

• Opt for a standard-shaped driveway, such as a square or rectangle. 

• Choose your asphalt type wisely. 

• Compare estimates from at least three driveway paving pros in your area. 

Repairing vs. Replacing a Driveway

Photo: Elenathewise / Adobe Stock

Replacing your driveway is far more expensive than repairing it. Resurfacing costs between $3 and $20 per square foot, while removing and replacing a driveway costs anywhere from $8 to $15 per square foot. But replacing it might be a better investment if you have major potholes, cracks wider than one-quarter inch, drainage issues, or your driveway is more than 20 years old.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed over 10,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.